Good luck Sweet Chariot

Thanks to Ben's kind invite I joined Toby & their dad, David, at the newly branded O2 Arena (ex Millennium dome) in Greenwich. Together with a few hundred O2 supporters we celebrated the England rugby team's World Cup retention bid in France next month.
I arrived early to nose around the stadium until Ben rang to say I could get in without the ticket Toby was carry for me, as my name had also be put on the door!!

I meet David in reception & together we slide into the VIP area for a couple of warm up ales before being escorted to the stage side table to watch the proceedings ..........

Ben had to work for some of the evening so I had the pleasure of chatting to amongst others his co host; Kirtsy Gallagher, who of course I knew nothing about until I Googled her name (to check I'd spelt her name right) & came up with this link !!!
http://www.tccandler.com/talent_file_kirsty_gallagher.htm


Ben interviewed Brian Ashton, & a number of players including this interview with Lawrence Dalligio & Captain Phil Vicery. Click on the picture to play







In between dinner, Ben's player interviews & Jools Holland's fantastic stage show Toby, David & I attempted a few of the numerous charity auctions that were taking place. It was during the on stage Auction of the "The Rugby Nut package" that I came within a Nat's whisker of bidding £7,000 for a huge number of rugby tickets.

Toby was taking a picture of me pretending to bid with a big England inflatable hand when the auctioneer took my £7k bid as read, I was left sweating or a few seconds until I was outbid but it still took me a good few minutes to cool down & get over a potentially expensive photograph pose. The package eventually sold for +£9k!!

To celebrate my luck escape I later took the liberty of sitting in Ben's interview chair, I think I look quite the part, even if it was a just a bottle of wine that I was clutching & not the required microphone!!!

Home Sweet Home

Well it's been 9 fantastic months of travelling, I seen, experienced & done some great great things & now I've returned home to the sunny sunny English summer, err........... or not!

I'm back in wet & rainy Blithy & it isn't what I'd expected of an English summer, but then I suppose you can't have everything.

Watch "fernandez fierro"

Club Athelico Fernandez Fierro C.A.F.F

A Wednesday night in a local barrio, a hanger style building packed with the young & trendy (like me!!!) & a wicked band.

The local bit of th mix made it easy for me to stand out. As if being a good foot taller than most didn't give the Gringo away then the fair whiter completion & of course my subtly camouflaged blond hair made ID-ing the odd one a little easier. None the less it was great fun.

http://www.fernandezfierro.com/caff/

The band we'd gone to see we a superb mix of traditional Tango structure & new age dress, attitude & energy. The hall was crammed with people near the stage but behind the crowd there was just enough room for others to Tango. This was not a place for beginners to wade on in so it wasn't until well after the band had finished & there was lighter background music playing that I thought, what the heck, I've come this far & had 4 lessons, I just have to try......
..

Watch "Boca jrs match vs Central "

Boca jrs match vs Central

26 sec - 9 Aug 2007
Description: Boca jrs match vs Central

Boca Juniors vs Central 0-0

Sunday afternoon & a VIP trip out to the Boca stadium had Alex & I soaking up the intoxicating atmosphere of the Boca Juniors first game of the season.

We were picked up early & in the stadium an hour before kick off so that we could see the team parade their latest trophy, ticker tape filled the air & the sing, chatting & constant drumming deafened our ears & shook the cold concrete floor beneath our feet.

The Jugador 12' PTE, or the 12th player of the team danced & sang all game, & were in fact the best part of the day. The game by contrast was a catalogue of errors & missed opportunities.

The 0-0 score line reflected the poor performance & we were both glad of the excuse to jump up & down to the band so we could keep warm!!

Time to Tango

Why watch a Tango show when you can learn to dance....

Dave & I went a shade of white when we thought we might have to dance together, luckily 2 Brazilian ladies, of considerable size were on hand to send our toe nails black & blue. We had such a laugh, but neither of our dance partners had the slightest sense of co-ordination; the lack of English, or our Portuguese didn't help , but I've never had my feet stood on quite so often.

It look oh so easy when the professionals do it.........

so we decided to sit back & enjoy some wine, dinner &
see how it should really be done.

Doing the tourist bit

Back to BA, & a bit of tourist sight seeing.

We'd read that the Evita museum was worth a visit so decided to educate ourselves a little. Having strolled around the Palermo area, we found the Museum. It was genuinely a good experience & we found ourselves heading over to the place where her body has finally been laid to rest to complete the lesson.


Who says my trips all about action, action, action!!!